Superhero Pets

We all know that our pets are pretty special additions to our families. No matter whether it’s a rabbit, dog, or chinchilla, they are full of character and can make great companions, they’re also a fantastic listener!

So, what if being the perfect company became their job? 

We wanted to share with you what amazing work some animals do to help those in need. We’ve all heard of guide dogs, but therapy pets can be a variety of all kinds of animals. How much do you know about them?

Across the UK amazing animals are bringing comfort and happiness to a range of people with disabilities and emotional needs, from care homes, rehab facilities, hospices, and many more.

Hereford Community Farm is just one example of a centre using therapy pets to help people in need. Rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and dogs all help through Animal Assisted Intervention. This has been designed to help individuals gain confidence, increase social skills and reduce stress. It is well known that holding/stroking a pet can reduce blood pressure & relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. 

Many rabbits are used in nursing homes as they are less allergenic than dogs and cats. Just stroking a rabbit can have a calming influence on patients. 

Not only are therapy pets great for giving comfort, they can also bring a sense of routine and responsibility to patients. Learning how to care for an animal supports individual development and increases empathy towards others. 

The Animal Therapy Centre at The State Hospital in Scotland is a hugely beneficial part of the rehabilitation process. Patients are encouraged to handle the therapy pets which helps to relax the patient, reduce anxiety and help them bond with another – resulting in positive outcomes.

Of course all the animals used as Therapy Pets are always handled with staff supervision and their welfare is most important. 

It’s amazing to think how far a person can develop with the help of an animal. These really are superhero pets!

Which animals make perfect therapy pets?

Dogs – They aren’t called “man’s best friend” for nothing! Spending quality time with a dog can raise happiness levels. Like mentioned above, they’re also great for introducing routine through walks and feeding and they make a fantastic companion, providing love and reassurance. 

Cats – Just as loveable as dogs, but arguably more independent, cats can provide a calming effect and comfort as they love to be stroked and petted! 

Rabbits, Guinea pigs, chinchillas, other small pets – These have more modest needs than a dog/cat but provide just as much love and care.  

Fish – Ever found yourself fascinated by fish swimming in a tank? This has been known to reduce stress and have therapeutic qualities - just take a look at all the tanks in waiting rooms!

For more information about the centres mentioned please see:

http://www.equine-animal-assisted-therapy.org.uk/

http://www.tsh.scot.nhs.uk/Person%20Centred/Health%20Improvement.html

 

The Jobs that Dogs Do

Most dogs have one job, and that is being a part of a family.  Whether they are whining for an extra treat, keeping your toes warm in the middle of winter or simply making you giggle at their antics, being man’s best friend is a respectable job to have.  But, some dogs have special jobs based on their incredible abilities.  And while begging for a tummy rub is not necessarily an exceptional skill, it is something dogs can do that humans cannot (without looking foolish that is).  Coupled with their loyalty and their loving natures, many dogs get up every morning to go to work.

Search and Rescue Dogs – These incredible animals work largely with their finely tuned sense of smell.  They are trained to learn the smell of a particular human, taking it from a piece of clothing or even a hairbrush and then search for that smell when a person is lost.  But, they also head out into disaster areas to rescue people whose smells they do not know.  Whether it is an avalanche or a collapsed building, these brave dogs sniff out people who are trapped, then alert their rescue team.

Sniffer Dogs – You rarely see these dogs except in movies, but you can bet that there is a team of them at every major airport.  Sniffer dogs, unsurprisingly, use their noses to detect illicit, illegal or dangerous materials hidden within luggage.  They also work with police departments, typically heading off with a search warrant to discover evidence that may be required for an arrest – or a conviction.  These are the dogs working to keep our streets safe.

Security Dogs – These dogs make look fierce (and truly that is part of their artillery), but these working dogs are usually only fiercely loyal.  They will do what they need to protect a property or a person.  The main job of most security guard dogs is to alert their human companions when trouble approaches.  Hopefully, a few stern barks do the trick as these dogs do not like it when you come any closer to whatever they are guarding.

Guide Dogs – These highly intelligent dogs work with a wide range of skills to do their job, but one thing they have that their owners do not, is sight.  Guide dogs act as navigators for the blind.  They undergo rigorous training before even being accepted into a guide dog school, more while they are there and still more when they are placed with their loving owner.  Guide dogs are known to do everything from helping their masters across the street to alerting the neighbourhood to an emergency in the house.   

Therapy Dogs – This is where the ability to not look silly with your legs flailing in the air really comes in handy.  Therapy dogs are used in a variety of institutions, such as schools, hospitals, care centres and nursing homes.  They are chosen for their ability to snuggle, and their gentle natures.  Their work is to help bring people out of their shells and to inspire them to love life.  People can do this; dogs do it better.

Soldier Dogs – Similar to sniffer dogs, these brave animals work with their noses – and their instincts to sniff out landmines and other potentially dangerous situations.  They keep their partners safe, and with some amazing statistics at that.  Reports show that war dogs have a 98% success rate in bomb detection, and these days military units are working to home these dogs with their partners when their tour of duty is done.

Herding Dogs – Often called sheep dogs, these animals assist on farms and ranches.  It is one of the oldest canine professions around.  They have a commanding presence and a wilfulness that other animals just cannot beat.  Herding dogs are über efficient at getting sheep into the right place at the right time in a way that would take several humans to accomplish.  They are also not bad at moving cows, which is saying something as those animals are much larger.

Sled Dogs – Another timeless dog occupation is in transport.  These are wildly remarkable dogs that have more than the ability to work – they work in teams.  They can withstand extreme temperatures, dire situations, long journeys and all of this with a sled of goods weighing in behind them.  In the coldest climates sled dogs have always been necessary for transporting crucial items from one establishment to the next, and they are still at work today – even with all the technology we have available. 

Entertainment Dogs – There are dogs on television and in movies that we cannot get enough of.  From Lassie and Rin Tin Tin to Marmaduke and Marley, there are dogs that have charmed their way into the hearts of millions.  These working dogs know how to follow instructions, no matter how ridiculous they may be.  And they are remarkably skilled at marketing their breed to the public – including both good and, ahem, naughty traits.  Other dogs in the entertainment industry are racers, such as greyhounds that work incredibly hard for their owners before settling into their forever families.

One thing that all working dogs have in common is the need for a special diet.  Although man’s best friend may be continually on the lookout for birds in the garden, or the postman at the front door, working dogs require constant alertness while on the job, and must maintain peak fitness to be effective at the tasks they perform.  Special foods are created for exactly this purpose, with a focus on maintaining high energy levels throughout their working shifts. 

Vets will recommend working dog food for pets that are always busy and working – whether it is a recognised profession or not.  If you think your dog could benefit from working dog food, take him off to the vet for a check up and a chat; this food does require a certain amount of constant energy expenditure for it to be truly effective in your pet’s regime.  Usually though, man’s best friend does not need working dog food – just working dog recognition.

For more interesting facts about dogs and other animals, visit us online at: www.burgesspetcare.co.uk

When to Get Your Dog to the Vet

A new and relatively unknown disease is affecting canines in the UK.  It resembles a disease that first emerged in the United States in the 1980s, called Alabama Rot.  One thing is certain, this infection, which first appears as lesions on legs, paws or dog faces leads to kidney failure.  Over a dozen UK canines have been reported dead as a result of this disease.

Although New Forest has seen the highest number of infections, dog owners in other areas should not count themselves out of the woods yet.  Deaths in County Durham, Worcestershire, Surrey and Cornwall have also been reported.  Although the actual source of the contamination is unknown, the Environment Agency has ruled out chemical contamination.

Dog owners in the UK should take these reports and the warning notices of the Forestry Commission seriously.  If your dog develops any lesions, anywhere on his body, take him to the vet urgently.  Early treatment seems to be the key to preventing an unfortunate death.

Although this is the sort of symptom that most pet owners would typically watch for a day or two before determining its severity, that length of time may just be too long to save your dog from kidney decline, and possible failure.  Even if you believe you can talk away a lesion as a scratch from a little rough and tumble, it is always better to be safe than sorry when then health of your best friend is on the line.

With that in mind, now is the perfect time to brush up on the other canine symptoms that demand an immediate visit to the vet.  

Trauma – This one is typically a no-brainer.  If your pet is hit by a passing car, or gets into a fight with another dog, you know you need to head to the vet.  There is no other way to determine whether, or what, internal damage has occurred.  But, no matter how vigilant you are, accidents can happen that you know nothing about; perhaps your pet fell down the stairs while you were at work.  It can happen.  Dogs don’t typically whimper in pain unless it is serious.  Nor do they limp for sympathy.  If your animal begins to demonstrate any symptoms that can correlate with an accident, do not hesitate.  Often your pet is in a lot more pain than he’s willing to let on - quite possibly because he doesn’t want to cause you any fuss, but more than likely it’s because he doesn’t realise that modern medicine can take the pain away.

Difficulty Breathing – This is never normal for a dog.  And, it can mean a variety of different things.  You may be able to tell what it is by simply listening, but there is no action or course you can safely undertake except getting your dog off to the vet urgently.  Breathing difficulty presents itself in a number of different ways, from choking to wheezing.  Sometimes breathing will become so weak you can barely hear it, or so raspy that you’re unable to tune it out.  And, if your dog stops breathing altogether, that obviously means trouble.  Sometimes breathing difficulties are an allergic response, although it could also be heart or pulmonary disease.  Another major cause of difficulty is when something lodges in your dog’s throat – and that does mean that you need to hustle to the vet as it is never recommended for owners to attempt to dislodge anything from their dog’s mouths (unless you’re playing fetch).

Seizures – You’ve seen your dog chasing rabbits in her sleep, right?  It’s funny.  Sometimes it’s the kind of funny that makes you burst with laughter, causing your dog to jolt from her sleep.  But, this is also the sort of paddling that can indicate that your dog is having a seizure.  (Don’t worry, what you believe is your dog imagining he’s a hound dog on the prowl after the neighbour’s cat, is likely to be just that.)  But, paddling of the legs, accompanied by uncontrollable tremors or shaking is cause for concern.  Count that doubly so if those symptoms present themselves alongside a loss of consciousness or bowel and urinary control.  If your dog has never had a seizure before, it’s time to load her into the car and head over to the vet.  Most often, seizures are an indication of epilepsy which can be managed, but sometimes it is a sign of poisoning or toxicity which must be treated urgently.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea – Yes, your dog does vomit more than you do.  But if that’s the case (or maybe, especially if that’s the case), then you should know that there is a difference between a little belly clean and a problem.  Stomach upsets are normal – so long as your dog is still behaving normally.  If you are concerned, withhold food for a couple of hours to see if the vomiting continues without food, and to check for other symptoms.  Just make sure your pet has access to plenty of fresh water at all times.  The same goes for diarrhoea.  You can watch for other symptoms for a few hours.  But, if either symptom persists for over 24 hours, it is time for a professional opinion as it could be symptomatic of something much worse than a simple stomach ache.

Strange Eating Behaviours or Excessive Drinking – Most people lose a bit of their appetite when it’s hot outside.  It’s normal for animals to react the same way to the heat.  Missing a meal or two is okay, but it can only be a once off.  If your dog goes more than a day without eating, that could be indicative of a larger problem.  Conversely, some diseases cause extreme hunger, and you may find that your well behaved pooch begins to push the lid of his food tin.  Of course, this could be just a symptom of boredom, but only if it happens once.  Otherwise, it is time for a vet visit.  Uncontrollable drinking or excessive urination can also be a problem, even if it is hot outside.  If you find your dog is constantly at her water bowl, then you will want to take her off to the vet as it could be symptomatic of diabetes or kidney disease. 

Distended Abdomen – After a really large, delicious meal, it’s normal for your belly to push out a bit while your food digests.  Canines experience similar stomach expansions, especially after they’ve managed to wiggle their way into the pantry and chow all the biscuits.  However, this state should be temporary, and only accompanied by a bit of a nap.  But, a distended abdomen, which presents itself with dry heaves, difficulty breathing or apparent weakness, could be a sign of a larger problem.  Larger breed dogs are prone to a condition where their stomach can turn over on itself, which can be life threatening.  Early detection is critical to save your pet’s life.  Distension could also signify heart disease or internal bleeding.  Regardless of the cause, this is one condition that cannot be ignored.

Extreme Fatigue - Lethargy is not a normal for most dogs.  Unless your pooch has just gotten into the pantry and eaten a week's worth of food, fatigue is a clear sign that something is wrong.  There are a number of reasons that your dog would choose a nap over an afternoon walk.  Many of them have to do with infection though, and that is obviously deserving of a trip to the vet.  Anemia and poor diet are other common reasons for a dog to spend his days on the floor.  Of course, there are a couple of other, particularly serious reasons that this could occur.  Two of those are diabetes and cancer, and with both of these diseases, you can expect to give your dog a longer, happier life if it is diagnosed early enough.

Bum Dragging - Canines do a lot of funny things, don't they?  They chase their tails and get super excited that they've gotten a bone before promptly burying it.  And sometimes they drag their bums on the ground.  It can be funny to watch, but it is often a symptom of something rather troubling.  On the plus side, it may just be worms, which can typically be fixed with just a tablet or two.  But it can also be a sign of blocked anal glands, which requires a vet's intervention.  But, as with many of the symptoms on this list, it can also indicate that your dog has diabetes.  Even worse, it is also a symptom of kidney disease.  If you happen to catch your beloved pet doing this once, you can chalk it up to a funny movement; but more than once and it is time for a professional opinion.

You know your dog better than anyone, so it you think there is something troubling your dog, then take action.  This list is by no means comprehensive, and it is always better to play it safe - especially when it comes to your best friend.

For more information about dog welfare please visit the Burges Pet Care website - http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/pet-care/supadog.html